Bass drum pedal assembly

ABSTRACT

A drum pedal assembly having a pair of drum beater standards mounted on opposite ends of a base and having a drum beater operatively held by each standard. A vertical support is mounted on the base intermediate the pair of standards and pivotally mounts adjacent ends of a pair of foot pedals. The foot pedals extend outward from the pivot support in opposite directions and the swinging ends of the foot pedals are operatively connected to the drum beaters. The pair of foot pedals forms a split pedal that may be operated by a drummer&#39;&#39;s foot selectively to strike in any sequence either or both of a pair of bass drums, located at the ends of the base opposite the standards, by downward movement of the heel or toe portion of the foot.

United States Patent Simpson [451 July 18, 1972 [54] BASS DRUM PEDAL ASSEMBLY 72 Inventor: Allan R. Simpson, 5656 Springlake Road N.W., Canton, Ohio 44718 22 Filed: July 26,1971 211 Appl.No.: 165,485

[5 1] Int. Cl. ..Gl0d 13/00 [58] Fieldofsell'ch ..84/4ll,422

[56] Reterenees Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,484,302 10/ 1949 Laverents ..84/422 2,484,936 10/1949 Dem ....84/422 2,845,830 8/1958 Haviland ..84/422 FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS 447 1/1904 Great Britain ..84/422 Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-John F. Gonzales Attorney-John H. Bishop and Joseph Frease [57] ABSTRACT A drum pedal assembly having a pair of drum beater standards mounted on opposite. ends of a base and having a drum beater operatively held by each standard. A vertical support is mounted on the base intermediate the pair of standards and pivotally mounts adjacent ends of a pair of foot pedals. The

- foot pedals extend outward from the pivot support in opposite directions and the swinging ends of the foot pedals are operatively connected to the drum boaters. The pair of foot pedals forms a split pedal that may be operated by a drummer's foot selectively to strike in any sequence either or both of a pair of bass drums, located at the ends of the base opposite the standards, by downward movement of the heel or toe portion of the foot.

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SHEET 3 OF 3 INVENTOR ALLAN R. SMPSON ATTORNE S BASS DRUM PEDAL ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to a pedal assembly and more particularly to a drum pedal assembly having two drum beaters for striking two bass drums. The drum pedal assembly is located between two drums and permits a drummer independently to strike the drums in any sequence desired by movement of the heel and toe portions of his foot.

2. Description of the Prior Art Most known pedals for striking bass drums generally consist of a pedal hinged at the lower edge, similar to a gas pedal of an ordinary automobile, with a single drum beater pivotally mounted on the top of a vertical standard. The beater moves forward to strike the drum when the pedal is depressed by the drummer's foot and is returned by some mechanism, usually a spring mounted on the standard.

Drummers have used one pedal to strike one drum with each foot, that is a maximum of two drums may be beaten by using two foot pedals, one for each foot.

The trend today in music is to achieve the greatest variety of sounds possible.

Various pedal assemblies provide some variety in sound by simultaneously striking a drum and cymbol by a single operation of a foot pedal which has a cymbol tapping ball on the drum beater staff. Still other assemblies enable two drums to be struck by movement of a single foot pedal. One such assembly consists of an elaborate arrangement of springs and levers as shown in U.S. Pat. No. l,775,283 in which the depression of a pedal causing a primary beater to strike a drum and simultaneously places a spring in tension which enables a second beater to strike a second drum upon the release of the foot pedal.

Other drum pedal assemblies enabling two separate drums to be struck by manipulation of a single pedal consist of two drum beaters connected together by a tube and universal joint, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,845,830. The tube and joint transmit the pedal motion from the first heater to the second beater.

All of these prior pedal assemblies are operated by the downward pressure of the toe portion of the foot, and do not permit the drummer to select either drum of the pair, or the order in which he wishes to strike them. Only one assembly of which I am aware, described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,484,302 enables the downward movement of the heel portion as well as the downward movement of the toe portion of the drummers foot to actuate a beater to strike a drum. This assembly, however, permits only one drum to be struck through movement of one foot.

No drum pedal assembly of which I am aware enables two drums to be struck in any desired sequence by a pedal assembly manipulated by one foot.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Objectives of the invention include providing a bass drum pedal assembly which enables two bass drums to be struck in any desired sequence by movement of one foot of the drummer to enable a great variety of sounds to be produced by a single drummer; providing a bass drum pedal assembly which is lightweight and compact enabling it to be carried easily with the drums to a band playing site, and which is used with a pair of usual bass drums requiring no special mounting brackets or installation equipment; providing a bass drum pedal assembly which uses a relatively few number of moving parts and which eliminates the use of gears and other cumbersome mechanical movements; providing a bass drum pedal assembly which enables a drummer to strike four bass drums in various sequences by operating two of the improved pedal assemblies, one with each foot; providing a bass drum pedal assembly which can be modified easily to enable the drum heaters to alternately strike the drums by a simple rocking motion on the pedal assembly; and providing a pedal assembly which is inexpensive to manufacture and sturdy and durable in use, and which eliminates difficulties heretofore encountered, achieves the objectives indicated and solves problems and satisfies needs existing in the art.

These objectives and advantages are attained by the bass drum pedal assembly, the general nature of which may be stated as including a base, a pair of spaced drum beater standard means mounted on the base; drum beater means pivotally mounted on the standard means and extending therefrom; support means mounted on the bme intermediate the standard means; pedal means having outer ends each of which is operatively connected to one of the drum beater means; pivot means mounting the pedal means on the support means intermediate the outer pedal ends whereby downward movement of the pedal ends by a drummers foot pivots the connected drum beater means causing the beater means to strike a bass drum positioned adjacent each of the standard means; the pedal means including first and second pedals-having inner ends located adjacent to each other; pivot means mounting the inner ends on the support means, whereby the first and second pedals move independently of each other when either of the pedals is actuated by a toe or heel portion of a drummers foot causing the beater means selectively to strike bass drums; and preferably pedal plate adapter means mounted on the first and second pedals whereby the pedal means is rockably mounted on the support means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the invention illustrative of the best modes in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles are set forth in the following description and shown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation showing the improved bass drum pedal assembly positioned between two bass drums;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the improved bass drum pedal assembly;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the improved bass drum pedal assembly;

FIG. 4 is an end elevation of the improved bass drum pedal assembly looking in the direction of arrows 4-4, FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5--5, FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatical side elevation showing the front drum pedal in striking position;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic side elevation similar to FIG. 6 but showing the rear drum pedal in striking position;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of a modified form of pivot post construction;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary top plan view looking in the direction of arrows 9-9, FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary side elevation of a pedal adapter plate for use with the improved pedal assembly, and

FIG. 11 is a side elevation of the pedal assembly with the adapter plate mounted thereon and with the front drum pedal in striking position.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment The improved bass drum pedal assembly is generally indicated at 1 (FIG. 1) and is shown located between two bass drums 2 and 3. An outline of a person's foot 4 is shown in dotdash lines contacting pedal assembly 1, prior to either drum being struck with a heater head.

Pedal assembly 1 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) has a base 5, front and rear drum beater standards 6 and 7, and a pedal pivot post 8 mounted on base 5. Standards 6 and 7 are located at opposite ends of base 5, preferably at diagonally opposite comers, and post 8 is intermediate standard 6 and 7.

Standards 6 and 7 are usual drum beater standards such as described in US. Pat. No. 1,042,904 and are identical to each other in construction and manner of operation. Therefore, only front standard 6 will be described in detail.

Standard 6 has a tubular stem portion 9 terminating in a lower mounting flange l and an upper yoke 11. Stem 9 may have a slot 12 (FIG. 4) formed along one side to facilitate inserting spring 13 within stem 9. Flange is screwed at 14 to base 5.

A sleeve assembly 15 is pivotally mounted between the prongs of yoke 11 on pin 16 which extends through horizontal sleeve portion 17. A usual drum beater shaft 18 extends upward from and is adjustably held within transverse sleeve portion 19 of assembly 15 by a set screw 20. A drum beater head 21 is mounted at the upper end of shaft 18 and preferably is covered with a soft material 22.

The upper end of spring 13 has a hook 23 engaged in eyelet 24 formed on sleeve 17. The lower end of spring 13 also has a hook 25 secured to a pin 26 mounted in the lower end of stem 9.

A clamp 27 is pivotally mounted on pin 26 at the lower end of each stem 9 for clamping drum rims 28 of drums 2 and 3 (FIG. 1) between clamps 27 and flanges 10 by wingnuts 29.

Pivot post 8 preferably has an upper U-shaped bracket 30, a vertical support member 31, and a base 32; and bracket has a web 33 and upwardly extending end flanges 34. Support member 31 extends between and is welded at 35 to web 33 and base 32. Pivot post base 32 may be mounted on pedal assembly base 5 by wingnuts 36 and bolts 36a.

In accordance with the invention, pedal means, indicated at 37, is pivotally mounted on post 8. Pedal means 37 preferably is formed from a pair of pedals 38 and 39 having inner pivoted ends 40 and 41 and outer swinging ends 42 and 43, respectively. Pedal end 40 may have its corners notched at 44 to form a central tongue-like portion 45 which extends into a central notch 46 formed in pedal end 41.

A pivot pin 47 extends through holes 48 and 49 formed in pedal ends 40 and 41, respectively, and through holes 50 formed in bracket end flanges 34, to pivotally mount pedals 38 and 39 on post 8.

One end of pivot pin 47 may be bent at 51 to retain pin 47 assembled in end flanges 34.

Links 52 extend between swinging ends 42 and 43 of pedals 38 and 39 and sleeve assemblies 15 on standards 6 and 7. The upper ends of links 52 are connected to eyelets 53 formed on beater sleeves 19. The lower ends of links 52 are connected to bars 54 which are screwed at 55 to the swinging pedal ends. Bars 54 may be twisted at 56 to prevent links 52 from binding during movement of pedals 38 and 39.

Links 52 preferably are long enough that swinging ends 42 and 43 of pedals 38 and 39 are in an upward pivoted position (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) when in normal rest position. This reduces the drummers foot movement required for striking either drum, thus reducing foot and leg fatigue over an extended period.

A drummer uses pedal assembly 1 (FIG. 1) by placing it on a floor or bandstand between bass drums 2 and 3, each of which may be tuned to a different pitch. Drum rims 28 are clamped by tightening wingnuts 29 of clamps 27 to hold drums 2 and 3 at proper position with respect to standards 6 and 7. A drummer preferably is seated adjacent assembly 1 with one foot 4 resting lightly on assembly 1 and extending generally horizontally between swinging pedal ends 42 and 43 in the at rest position.

The stiffness of springs 13 may be sufficient to prevent movement of either drum beater shaft by merely resting weight of the drummers foot on the pedal assembly. Springs 13 maybe adjusted so that only a slight amount of pressure by either the toe or heel portion of a foot 4 will cause movement of one of the drum beaters.

The operation of the improved drum pedal assembly 1 is shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 6 and 7.

Toe portion 4a of the drummer's foot 4 is moved downwardly in a direction indicated by arrow A (FIG. 6) pivoting front pedal 38 about pin 47. As swinging end 42 moves downwardly, link 52 pivots sleeve 19 about pin 16, moving front drum beater shaft 18 from at rest position (dotdash lines) in a clockwise direction (arrow B) until front drum beater head 21 strikes drum head 57. The clockwise rotation of sleeve 17 likewise places spring 13 in tensioned position which biases shaft 18 to return to its at rest position.

Rear drum beater head indicated as 21a remains in rest position during the forward movement of beater shaft 18 due to the split hinge connection on pin 47 between pedals 38 and 39. The heel 4b of foot 4 may either remain at rest or be raised slightly during the downward movement of toe portion 4a.

To strike drum 3 with rear drum beater head 21a, heel portion 4b is moved downwardly in a direction indicated by arrow C (FIG. 7). Swinging end 43 of pedal 39 pivots counterclockwise about pin 47 pulling link 52a downwardly and pivoting connected sleeve 19a and mounted rear drum beater shaft in a counterclockwise direction about pin 16a. Rear drum beater shaft 18a and drum beater head 21a pivot from at rest position(dot-dash lines) in a counterclockwise direction (arrow D) until beater head 21a strikes drum head 58.

Front drum beater shaft 18 and beater head 21 may remain in the forward or drum striking position of FIG. 6 by continual downward pressure of toe portion 4a on pedal 38 as rear beater head 21a is striking drumhead 58 or may be returned to its at rest position (FIG. 7) by spring 13 by lifting of toe portion 4a.

A drummer also may strike drums 2 and 3 simultaneously by movement of entire foot 4 downwardly thereby pivoting both front and rear pedals 38 and 39 downwardly causing drum beater heads 21 and 21a to strike drum heads 57 and 58, respectively.

Thus, the split-pedal means 37 or two hinged pedals of assembly 1 permits a drummer by a relatively small amount of movement of the heel and toe portion of his foot to strike drums 2 and 3 individually in any desired sequence or both simultaneously.

A drummer, after practicing with pedal assembly 1, can develop sufficient skill in its use to operate two of the pedal assemblies, one with each foot, enabling him to strike four drums in a variety of sequences. Each of the four drums can be tuned for a different pitch to enable a wide range of musical rhythms and beats to be produced by a single drummer using improved pedal assembly 1.

Pedals 38 and 39 need not be mounted on common pivot pin 47 but may be pivotally mounted each by a separate pivot pin as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. A pivot post 59 having a similar shape as pivot post 8 may be formed with two holes 60 in each web end flange 61. The adjacent inner ends 62 and 63 of pedals 64 and 65, which are similar to the pivotally mounted ends 40 and 41 of pedals 38 and 39, respectively, are formed with openings 66 and 67.

Pins 68 and 69 extend through pedal openings 66 and 67, respectively, and through aligned flange holes 60 pivotally mounting pedals 64 and 65 on post 59.

The separate pivot pin construction shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 permits inner ends 62 and 63 of pedals 64 and 65 to be straight without projections and complementary notches.

The use and manner of operations of pedals 38 and 39, and pedals 64 and 65 are the same regardless of the particular type of pivot joint used.

Second Embodiment Some musical selections do not require the selectivity of drum beats which is available with the split-pedal construction of pedal assembly 1, or the drummer may desire only to alternately strike front and rear drums. A modified drum pedal assembly, indicated at 70, is shown in FIG. 1 1 in which a pedal plate adapter 71 (FIG. 10) is placed over pedals 38 and 39 to form a continuous pedal enabling drums 2 and 3 to be alternatively struck by the respective drum beaters by a simple rocking motion of foot 4.

Adapter 71 includes a rigid pedal plate 72 and attachment means such as a rigid front clip 73 and a rear spring clip 74. Adapter 71 is snapped easily over pedals 38 and 39 by first engaging clip 73 with the outer end 42 of pedal 38 and then snapping spring clip 74 over outer end 43 of pedal 39.

FIG. 11 shows modified assembly 70 in a forward striking position with front drum beater head 21 striking drumhead 57 of drum 2 due to downward pressure exerted by toe portion 4a on pedal plate 72.

Pedal plate 72 moves in seesaw fashion in which one end goes up as the other end goes down with the balance or pivot point being provided by pivot post 8.

Thus, as toe portion 40 moves downwardly causing beater head 21 to strike drum 2, the rear portion of pedal plate 72 along with heel portion 4b moves upwardly, pivoting rear drum beater shaft 18a and drum beater head 21a away from the previously stuck drumhead 58.

Drum pedal assembly 70 although less variable in operation than assembly 1 does permit rapid striking of a pair of drums in an alternate pattern by a simple rocking movement of a foot. Assembly 70 is easier to operate and requires less skill than assembly 1 thereby permitting a less experienced drummer to achieve a variety of sounds and beats with a minimum amount of practice.

IN GENERAL In each of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings and described above, the pedal assembly permits a drummer to strike two bass drums by simple movement of one foot without requiring his foot to be lifted from one pedal assembly to another pedal assembly. Four drums therefore may be played by a drummer using both feet in any sequence, and each of the drums may be tuned to a different pitch producing a variety of sounds.

Accordingly, the bass drum pedal assembly provides for striking two drums in any desired sequence by simple movement of a drummer's foot, in which the pedal assembly is compact and easily movable along with the bass drums; enables usual drum beaters to be used with the pedal assembly and which beaters are removable for use in other pedal assemblies and for manual use; provides for easy attachment of an adapter plate to modify the pedal assembly to achieve a different drum striking pattern; and provides such a construction which is effective, inexpensive, and simple in assembly, operation and use and which achieves all the enumerated objectives, provides for eliminating difficulties encountered with prior devices, and solves problems and obtains new results in the art.

in the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details of the construction shown or described.

Having now described the features, discoveries and principles of the invention, the manner in which the improved bass drum pedal assembly is constructed, assembled and operated, the characteristics of the new construction, and the advantageous, new and useful results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, pans, and combinations are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A bass drum pedal assembly including a base; a pair of spaced drum beater standard means mounted on said base; drum beater means pivotally mounted on each standard means; support means mounted on the base between the standard means of the pair; pedal means having first and second outer ends, each outer end beilg operatively connectedto one of said drum beater means; an means pivotally mounting the pedal means on the support means intermediate said first and second ends, whereby downward movement of the pedal ends by a drummer's foot pivots the connected drum beater means on their pivotal mountings, causing said drum beater means to strike a drum positioned adjacent one of said standard means.

2. The construction defined in claim 1 in which link means extends from each pedal outer end; and in which each of said link means operatively connects one of said pedal outer ends to one of the drum beaters.

3. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the support means includes a U-shaped bracket having spaced end flanges; in which pivot pin means extend between said end flanges; and in which the pedal means is pivotally mounted by the pivot pin means on the support means.

4. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the pedal means includes first and second pedals; in which said pedals have inner ends adjacent one another; and in which the pivot means mounts said inner ends on the support means, whereby the first pedal moves independently of the second pedal when said first pedal is actuated by one portion of a drummer's foot, and whereby the second pedal moves independently of the first pedal when said second pedal is actuated by another portion of a drummer's foot.

5. The construction defined in claim 4 in which the first pedal inner end is formed with a projection; in which the second pedal inner end is formed with a recess into which said projection extends; in which aligned holes are formed in said projection and in the second pedal inner end; and in which the pivot means includes a pin which extends through said holes pivotally mounting said first and second pedals on the support means.

6. The construction defined in claim 4 in which a pedal plate is releasably mounted on the first and second pedals; and in which said pedal plate holds said pedals against relative movement; whereby the pedal means is rockably mounted on the support means for alternately striking a drum positioned adjacent each of the standard means when a rocking motion is applied to the pedal plate.

7. The construction defined in claim 4 in which one of the drum beater means is moved from an at rest position to a drum striking position when one of the first and second pedals is actuated; and in which the standard means includes spring means biasing said drum beater means toward at rest position.

8. The construction defined in claim 7 in which each first and second pedals is inclined, with the pedal outer end located higher than its inner end when the drum beater means is in at rest position. I 

1. A bass drum pedal assembly including a base; a pair of spaced drum beater standard means mounted on said base; drum beater means pivotally mounted on each standard means; support means mounted on the base between the standard means of the pair; pedal means having first and second outer ends, each outer end being operatively connected to one of said drum beater means; and means pivotally mounting the pedal means on the support means intermediate said first and second ends, whereby downward movement of the pedal ends by a drummer''s foot pivots the connected drum beater means on their pivotal mountings, causing said drum beater means to strike a drum positioned adjacent one of said standard means.
 2. The construction defined in claim 1 in which link means extends from each pedal outer end; and in which each of said link means operatively connects one of said pedal outer ends to one of the drum beaters.
 3. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the support means includes a U-shaped bracket having spaced end flanges; in which pivot pin means extend between said end flanges; and in which the pedal means is pivotally mounted by the pivot pin means on the support means.
 4. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the pedal means includes first and second pedals; in which said pedals have inner ends adjacent one another; and in which the pivot means mounts said inner ends on the support means, whereby the first pedal moves independently of the second pedal when said first pedal is actuated by one portion of a drummer''s foot, and whereby the second pedal moves independently of the first pedal when said second pedal is actuated by another portion of a drummer''s foot.
 5. The construction defined in claim 4 in which the first pedal inner end is formed with a projection; in which the second pedal inner end is formed with a recess into which said projection extends; in which aligned holes are formed in said projection and in the second pedal inner end; and in which the pivot means includes a pin which extends through said holes pivotally mounting said first and second pedals on the support means.
 6. The construction defined in claim 4 in which a pedal plate is releasably mounted on the first and second pedals; and in which said pedal plate holds said pedals against relative movement; whereby the pedal means is rockably mounted on the support means for alternately striking a drum positioned adjacent each of the standard means when a rocking motion is applied to the pedal plate.
 7. The construction defined in claim 4 in which one of the drum beater means is moved from an at rest position to a drum striking position when one of the first and second pedals is actuated; and in which the standard means includes spring means biasing said drum beater means toward at rest position.
 8. The construction defined in claim 7 in which each first and second pedals is inclined, with the pedal outer end located higher than its inner end when the drum beater means is in at rest position. 